| Gumption | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Genre | Reggae, dancehall | |||
| Label | Shanachie | |||
| Producer | Bunny Wailer | |||
| Bunny Wailer chronology | ||||
| ||||
Gumption is an album by the Jamaican musician Bunny Wailer. [1] [2] It was released in 1990 via Shanachie Records. [3] The album peaked at No. 10 on Billboard's World Albums chart. [4] Gumption was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Reggae Album". [5]
Wailer wanted to incorporate a dance hall element into the album's sound. [6] "Warrior" is a cover of the Johnny Osbourne song. [7] "Peiaka 'Bus Dem Shut'" was written by the Wailers in the 1960s. [8] "Dog War" and "Never Grow Old" were written by Toots Hibbert. [9] "Reggae Burden" refers to Bunny's position as the last Wailer, as well as his role as a promoter of reggae. [10]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [7] |
| Chicago Tribune |  [11] |
| Robert Christgau |  [12] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [13] |
| Los Angeles Daily News | [14] |
| MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide | [15] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [16] |
The Gazette deemed the album "a tribute to the diversity of Jamaican reggae styles, from ska and rock steady, to lover's rock, roots and dancehall... It's a richly melodic, uplifting set from start to finish, spearheaded by the bold and caring vocals of a reggae veteran." [17] The Chicago Tribune concluded that, "while not as aggressively 'dancey' as some material now in the marketplace, parts of Gumption are indeed given a 'synthetic' shading by electronic drum beats—although that's generally balanced by a more 'human,' emotional feeling stemming from ebullient melodies and Wailer's warm vocals." [11] The Los Angeles Daily News noted that "the majority of tracks here are lackluster and say nothing new rhythmically." [14]
AllMusic wrote that "Wailer uses simplicity to great advantage... His consistency is a thing to admire." [7]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sounds Clash" | |
| 2. | "Peiaka 'Bus Dem Shut'" | |
| 3. | "Dog War" | |
| 4. | "See and Blind" | |
| 5. | "Warrior" | |
| 6. | "Never Grow Old" | |
| 7. | "Gumption" | |
| 8. | "Wheel Yo Belly" | |
| 9. | "Don Man" | |
| 10. | "Reggae Burden" |
Exodus is the ninth studio album by Jamaican reggae band Bob Marley and the Wailers, first released in June 1977 through Island Records, following Rastaman Vibration (1976). The album's production has been characterized as laid-back with pulsating bass beats and an emphasis on piano, trumpet and guitar. Unlike previous albums from the band, Exodus thematically moves away from cryptic story-telling; instead it revolves around themes of change, religious politics, and sexuality. The album is split into two halves: the first half revolves around religious politics, while the second half is focused on themes of making love and keeping faith.
Burnin' is the sixth album by Jamaican reggae group the Wailers, released in October 1973. It was written by all three members and recorded and produced by the Wailers in Jamaica, contemporaneously with tracks from the Catch a Fire album with further recording, mixing and completion while on the Catch a Fire tour in London. It contains the song "I Shot the Sheriff". It was the last album before Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer decided to pursue solo careers, while continuing their local releases through their company Tuff Gong Records. A commercial and critical success in the United States, Burnin' was certified Gold and later added to the National Recording Registry, with the Library of Congress deeming it historically and culturally significant.
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Joseph Benjamin Higgs was a reggae musician from Jamaica. In the late 1950s and 1960s he was part of the duo Higgs and Wilson together with Roy Wilson. He was a popular artist in Jamaica for four decades and is also known for his work tutoring younger musicians including Bob Marley and the Wailers and Jimmy Cliff.
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Robert Nesta Marley was a Jamaican reggae singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of the genre, Marley fused elements of reggae, ska, and rocksteady in his music and was renowned for his distinctive vocal and songwriting style. Marley's contribution to music increased the visibility of Jamaican music worldwide and made him a global figure in popular culture. Over the course of his career, Marley became known as a Rastafarian icon, and he infused his music with a sense of spirituality. He is also considered a global symbol of Jamaican music and culture and identity, and was controversial in his outspoken support for democratic social reforms. He also supported legalisation of cannabis, and advocated for Pan-Africanism. In 1976, Marley survived an assassination attempt in his home, which was believed to be politically motivated.
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Winston Hubert McIntosh, OM, professionally known as Peter Tosh, was a Jamaican reggae musician. Along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, he was one of the core members of the band the Wailers (1963–1976), after which he established himself as a successful solo artist and a promoter of Rastafari. He was murdered in 1987 during a home invasion.
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Too Wicked is an album by the British band Aswad, released in 1990.
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Light Your Light is an album by the Jamaican band Toots and the Maytals, released in 2007. The band supported the album with a North American tour. The album coincided with Toots's 45th year as a recording musician.
